Her Vampire Master Book two

Chapter Seven

Nadine Smiled at her when she stepped inside, "Come in dearheart," she urged stepping back a little more to let her come in through the narrow hallway.

The baby tucked to her chest was latched on, nursing, with its small eyes, closed in sleep. It was swaddled in a soft warm blanket, a patch of blonde downy hair covered its tender scalp.

Elizabeth found herself in a small room that could only be enjoyed in layers, "Taavi, we've got a guest." She said loudly. Nadine nudged Elizabeth towards a couch shaped piece of furniture that was buried underneath fresh clean smelling laundry. "Push it out of the way luv," she said with a smile, "I can't seem to keep up with it these days with two children." She said smiling softly at her. "My older boy is sleeping already."

"Taavi," She called again, he appeared wearing a leather apron and gloves, she could see lingering pressure marks on his face, Elizabeth guessed that he had been wearing some kind of mask to protect his face from whatever he was working with. "Look what Rahl brought us," She said smiling at a still standing Elizabeth.

Taavi smiled at her, "Good to see you back, I was worried when you didn't come back in." He said sounding somewhat relieved. "I'll fix some tea."

Nadine smiled at him with her head tilted to the side, her eyes looked tired, "Don't forget the rose hips," She said teasingly, she moved to a rocking chair near the couch. She reached her hand towards Elizabeth squeezing her gloved hand.

"It's much to warm for this luv," she scolded her, waving at the cloak. "Take it off, you can tell us what it is you need when Taavi comes back," Nadine said, "I was hoping we would see you again, and here you are." She smiled.

"And here I am," Elizabeth agreed, although she was starting to wonder where exactly here was. "How did the boy know to bring me here?" She questioned.

"Rahl maybe a nuisance, but he wouldn't just bring anyone back here to us," she said with an amused smile on her face.

“I think he asked me to come to live with him,” she found herself saying.

"Actually, he probably asked you to marry him, he does that." She said with a polite smile, "It's a modern world, scary, isn't it? I think it must have been much easier when your parents just told you who you'd marry. At least if it was a mistake, it wasn't one you made."

Elizabeth undid the silk frogs holding the cloak together and unwound them letting it slip over her shoulders.

The woman released her hand and Elizabeth removed the other glove. She had a crazy urge to ask if she could help fold the laundry that she was trying not to lean into.

Taavi returned with the tea in a glazed pot, two mugs and a plate with small buttered biscuits. He pushed a small table closer to them with his foot and sat the tray on it before pouring both women the warm tea. He removed his gloves and squatted down a bit, "I'm glad to see you here, I've got something that may help you." He said when he was eye level with her.

Elizabeth wanted to cry, she didn't know if they were tears of joy or something else, something she didn't want to think about, "Why are you no longer at your shop?" She asked curiously.

"Vampires were lurking around," he answered honestly, "I still want to help you, now I don't think that's the only thing you're here for, is it?"

Elizabeth opened her purse and took out a list, she was aware of the pleasing look the couple exchanged at all of the crisp notes. She handed the list to him and he scanned through it, nodding to himself as he looked it over.

It was a supply list that she had started in anticipation of the trip to London, there was nothing on it that would set off any alarm bells, though some of the crystals she was looking for were very costly and troublesome to come by. Those were the last minute additions she had quickly scribbled down when she realized that Fiona wasn't being close-fisted with her money.

"I've got some of these items laying around, except for the jade sticks. I've got a set, but they're far too brittle for this type of spell and I'd hate for them to break on you. I can get you something better if you can wait a few days or so." Taavi said, "Most of these though, I can give you tonight."

Elizabeth agreed to try and come back, Nadine clapped happily, "So wonderful," she smiled, "Won't you have some tea dear?"

"It's so good to see you again." Elizabeth smiled at her.

"This is our unnamed one," she said nodding her head to the baby sleeping peacefully in her arms, the babe had stopped nursing and was happily sleeping. "Taavi wants to name her Bunny, have you ever heard of anything so ridiculous?"

Taavi smiled at her, "If you'd shorten your list down to something that doesn't look like the Book of Saints, I'd be willing to compromise." He said before excusing himself.

Elizabeth picked up her mug, the tea smelled of rose hips and chamomile. She sipped it, what was she doing here? She was supposed to be getting an impression of the alchemist in the Jewish quarter. Her first impression was that she liked them in a way that reminded her of home and made her chest feel tight.

Nadine lay the baby in a small light colored bassinet, he touched her hand as she walked back over, bringing her attention back to their conversation. Elizabeth realized she had missed something she had said, "I'm terribly sorry," she said embarrassed.

"Oh, no worries." She said shaking her head, watching her with curious gray eyes. "I was just asking how long you've been practicing."